Munich: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday expressed his confidence in South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok and emphasized the strength of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, affirming America's commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Rubio's remarks came during bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany. This meeting was the first in-person encounter between the two officials since Rubio assumed office last month.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce provided a readout of the meeting, stating, "Secretary Rubio reaffirmed America's commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK while expressing the Trump administration's openness to dialogue." DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Bruce further added, "Secretary Rubio reiterated his confidence in ROK Acting President Choi Sang-mok and the strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance," referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. This marked the first instance where a top Trump administration official mentioned South Korea's acting president, as President Donald Trump himself has not addressed Choi since his inauguration last month.
During the talks, Rubio also highlighted the importance of "enduring defense and economic ties," as the two diplomats discussed strategies to deter potential aggression from North Korea and enhance economic cooperation. Rubio expressed interest in further collaboration in shipbuilding, semiconductor, and energy sectors, particularly through "increased exportation of American liquefied natural gas."
According to Bruce, the discussions also focused on advancing economic cooperation aligned with President Trump's agenda, particularly through joint business initiatives and closer alignment on critical and emerging technologies.
The two diplomats shared concerns over China's actions in the South China Sea. Earlier, Seoul's foreign ministry reported that Cho and Rubio agreed to closely collaborate on North Korea policy under the Trump administration.
"They also shared concerns over military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and agreed to continue monitoring the situation," the ministry noted. The talks came amid South Korea's efforts to ensure stable relations with the new Trump administration, addressing issues such as the bilateral alliance, North Korean threats, and Trump's tariff plans.
Regarding tariffs, Cho called for "mutually beneficial solutions" and expressed South Korea's dedication to resolving these issues through close consultations with the U.S. In response, Rubio promised to convey Seoul's position to Washington and suggested further discussions between the two governments.
Rubio reportedly requested Seoul's active cooperation in shipbuilding, energy, and other sectors, to which Cho expressed South Korea's willingness. The meeting also occurred as Seoul navigates its diplomatic engagements following the martial law attempt by former President Yoon Suk Yeol last December.
Rubio assured Cho that the U.S. values its relationship with South Korea and seeks to maintain stable relations irrespective of domestic political changes. The issue of North Korea's denuclearization has been highlighted after Trump and his officials referred to Pyongyang as a "nuclear power," sparking debates in Seoul over the potential recognition of North Korea's nuclear capabilities.
Following their talks, Cho will participate in a trilateral meeting with Rubio and Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya, where they are expected to stress the importance of maintaining and advancing trilateral cooperation. Cho's visit to Munich is his first overseas trip since the martial law incident.